Devotional Reading Plan

Day 1

What Do You Mean, “Insane”?

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

For security purposes I have lived for many years using the pseudonym of Nik Ripken. My wife has used the name Ruth Ripken. We consider it a holy privilege that we have been able to share our story in two previous books, The Insanity of God and The Insanity of Obedience. The devotional that you now see on your computer or phone has grown out of the writing and publication of those previous two books, and it also grows out of our life story.

Before The Insanity of God was published, there was serious discussion about the book’s title. Many people involved in the debate argued that using the word insanity with regard to God would cause people to distance themselves from the book. Some people suggested that the title might even keep the book from being read. That opinion nearly carried the day.

As difficult as it is to gain a hearing in today’s world, it seemed that a controversial title might make broad reception of the book unlikely.

Sure enough, when the book was published, some booksellers were hesitant even to display the book in public. Sometimes the book was kept behind the counter; at other times, the book was available only by special order.

While the debate about the title was raging, we stood resolute. We fought for the title that was ultimately selected: The Insanity of God. Without a shred of disrespect or irreverence, we stressed that God’s ways are so unusual that, by human standards, they are considered outside of the boundaries of what would be called “sane.”

Indeed, God has told us the very same thing in His Word. He is forever reminding us that He is different—and that His ways are different. And not merely different; His ways are scandalous, shocking, startling, disturbing, . . . and holy.

In The Insanity of God, we told the story of this unusual God who accomplishes His work in unusual ways. In The Insanity of Obedience, we unpacked the lessons of the testimonies and stories of persecuted believers from around the world—and we gleaned from the stories instructive teaching that could assist followers of Jesus seeking to fulfill the Great Commission.

When compared to all the gods recorded in human history, the love and action of Jesus Christ is unusual, mystical, and sacrificial.

Whenever did a god allow himself or his son to be crucified for those he created? How could it be possible to envision God sending His Son to die for us as something that is normal, expected, or what we deserve?

In other words, is there anything “normal” about God loving us so much that He was willing to make such a great sacrifice?

This insane love of God is breathtaking! And it is this insane love of God, introduced in our two previous books, that can take people to unlikely places and cause those people to serve in sacrificial, costly ways.

Indeed, God’s way are different.

This God chooses to use people who are not especially qualified. This God chooses to work in ways that we simply do not understand. This God will do whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes. This God’s love is so out of bounds, so extravagant, so outlandish . . .that we might even call it insane. And this God will allow His children to suffer. This God will ask for great sacrifice. This God will use persecution for His purposes.

This God will sometimes leave His children in prison—and He will often leave them there for a long, long time. This God does not always provide immediate rescue; sometimes He does not provide rescue at all.

This God loves relentlessly—even when He is rejected. This God even enters into suffering Himself. The purpose of this devotional is to help you understand and come to grips with what it might mean for you to sacrifice for the call of Christ. We hope this devotional will help you hear the expectation of God—and embrace it. God will stop at nothing to accomplish

His plan—and He fully expects His people to stop at nothing to give themselves to His purpose. To help us embrace this crucial task of joining God in His work: we will consider the story of God that we encounter in

Scripture; we will learn that God is still very much at work today as we reflect on stories of His miraculous activity around the world; we will give voice to God’s clear demand for obedience that applies to every person who follows Jesus.

Ultimately, this exploration will lead us to a point of response—a response that will necessitate sacrifice His ways are unusual—so unusual, in fact, that we might even call them insane.

Father, forgive us for making You in our image rather than inviting You to transform us into Your image. We want to pray what You taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But if we pray that prayer truthfully and sincerely, how much control over our lives will we retain?